Principal Economic Policy Adviser

Job summary

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking for a Principal Economic Policy Adviser.

This is an exciting role for anyone who enjoys working at the intersection of policy development and economic analysis, who would like to apply their expertise to live policy questions and lead the production of high-quality, impactful outputs.

The Advocacy, Public Policy and International (APPI) unit provides advice to government on policy and regulation; oversees the CMA’s engagement with elected representatives across the UK; and manages the CMA’s international relations. The Advocacy teamleads the CMA’s engagement with government on the policy issues that affect competition, consumers and markets.

About the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

The CMA is an independent non-ministerial UK government department and is the UK’s principal competition and consumer protection authority. We help people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour.

We provide the opportunity to work across all sectors of the UK economy, undertaking objective, evidence-based analysis that can have a direct and substantial impact on the economy and economic prosperity.

Open the role profile to learn more, and more about the CMA in our candidate pack.

Job description

As a Principal Economic Policy Adviser, you will:

• Use your understanding of economics and competition to lead the delivery of informal and formal advice, evidence gathering and analysis, and support to government on the impact of current and future policy (including regulation, law and other interventions) on competition, consumers and markets.
• Communicate advice and analysis clearly and convincingly, both orally and in writing. This may involve informal engagement with officials, written submissions to government consultations and parliamentary inquiries, published papers, training and other tailored approaches.
• Support colleagues across the CMA to identify opportunities to advise government that might arise from their work; and assist them in devising strategies to manage associated risks and opportunities linked to engaging with government.

To find out more, please review the role profile.

Person specification

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application. If you do not meet the lead selection criteria in your application, the panel will not be required to score your application against the remaining essential criteria of the role:

· Demonstrable expertise in applying economic concepts to policy development and evaluation. (Lead Criteria)

· A strong understanding of government policy priorities, and of the processes by which policy and law is made and implemented and how it can affect market outcomes. (Lead Criteria)

· Ability to rapidly acquire a detailed knowledge of unfamiliar markets or policy areas and to balance multiple competing demands while using initiative to make well‑judged decisions.

· Experience of working collaboratively, building effective relationships with colleagues and senior decision makers, and partners across organisations or departments with related goals.

· Experience communicating and presenting complex material clearly to a range of audiences, from non-technical to specialist, both orally and in writing

Professional qualifications and accreditations – Lead Criteria

· Strong grounding in economics — demonstrated through either formal study (for example an undergraduate or masters degree with substantial economics content) or through equivalent professional experience applying economic or competition concepts in practice (for example, relevant work in a regulator, competition authority, or policy-focused role). (Lead Criteria)

Qualifications

Strong grounding in economics — demonstrated through either formal study (for example an undergraduate or masters degree with substantial economics content) or through equivalent professional experience applying economic or competition concepts in practice (for example, relevant work in a regulator, competition authority, or policy-focused role). (Lead Criteria)

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Applied Economics

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £63,800, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £18,482 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

You’ll also get:

• 25 days leave (increasing to 30 days over five years), plus 8 public holidays and an additional day off for the King’s birthday. In addition, you’ll be able to access a wide range of other types of leave as and when you need it, including generous maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption options, as well as paid special leave for volunteering
• Season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, flu vaccinations and eye tests
• Access to the Civil Service Sports & Leisure, giving discounted gym membership, high street discounts, free access to UK wide attractions and a free Tastecard
• A range of wellbeing benefits, including an employee assistance programme, flexible working options and family friendly policies, regular networking events and professional learning opportunities at work

You can read more about our benefits in our candidate pack.

Our Values

We are Ambitious and Evidence-based, and always strive for Excellence.​ We treat everyone with Respect and are Collaborative and Inclusive.​

Everything we do is underpinned by the Civil Service values: Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality and Objectivity.

You can read more about life at the CMA in our candidate pack above.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application and sift stage

• As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and an online application form. Further details about application requirements are listed on the application form.
• The selection process will comprise of the sift (CV & application review), task and an interview. Arrangements for the task and interview will be enclosed in the invitation.
• Please note that it is essential that your personal statement is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and experience for each of the essential criteria (as included on the role profile attached and listed above under 'Person Specification') in your application. Your personal statement should be no more than 1250 words.
• An initial sift based on the three criteria points listed as 'Lead Criteria' may be held if a large number of applications are received. If your application progresses to a full sift, all elements of the essential criteria listed under Person Specification will then be considered. If you do not meet the lead selection criteria in your application, the panel will not be required to score your application against the remaining essential criteria of the role.
• We may raise the score required at sift stage to progress to interview if we receive a high number of applications and take through the highest performing candidates to the interview stage.
• Successful candidates at sift will be invited to an interview which will be conducted via Teams.

Interview stage

• At the CMA we apply a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you and we use the Success Profiles framework assessing the Behaviours and experience outlined in the advert and attached role profile.
• The first part of the interview will comprise of an in-tray exercise, which will take place directly ahead of your interview. Details of this will be sent with your interview invitation.
• The second part of the interview will be a 45 minute - one hour panel interview where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours, Technical Skill and Experience (essential criteria) outlined in the role profile.
• A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Timeline (the dates outlined below are indicative and may be subject to change)

• The advert closing date is Tuesday 24th February 2026 (23:55). We are not able to accept late applications.
• The sift is scheduled to take place between 25th and 27th February 2026.
• Interviews will be held from the week commencing 9th March 2026. Interviews will be via Teams.

Reasonable adjustments

We want to make sure no one is at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. You can also email recruitment@cma.gov.uk.

For example, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional. You might also require additional time to complete a timed assessment or a sign language interpreter to support with the relaying of information.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : CMA Recruitment
• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Further information

If your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Recruitment@cma.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

G7C Principal Economic Policy Advisor Role Profile - Feb 26 Opens in new window (pdf, 216kB)